Calibrator for Liquid Flowmeter

ABSTRACT

The inventive device comprises scaled vessels mounted on a vehicle and making it possible, while filling a liquid medium in the vessels, to recycle the vapors thereof through a circuit of casings beginning form the reading sights of the vessels and extending to an air-vent pipe provided with a removable valve, wherein the bottom of each vessel is embodied such that it is inclined and is followed by a valve, a transparent dripping reference unit and a second valve open into a common tube and ending by an ultimate valve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is U.S. National Phase §371 application ofInternational Application No. PCT/CA2005/000365 filed on Mar. 18, 2005,which in turn claims priority from Canadian Patent Application Ser. No.2,463,477, filed on Apr. 13, 2004, both of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THF INVENTION

This invention would be categorized as a liquid measurement device foruse in, but not limited to the measuring and calibrating of liquidflowmeters, mostly for petroleum liquids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the case of petroleum products sold in the retail sector, the methodcurrently used to calibrate meters is dangerous and outdated. Presently,for each meter, the technician needs to perform the following steps:

-   -   1. Place the tank on the ground;    -   2. Fill the tank with the fuel nozzle of a gas pump;    -   3. Kneel and take the measurement of the level of the liquid;    -   4. Write the measurement down;    -   5. Empty the tank making sure it is truly empty, for the next        filling (the technician must not see any drops dripping down for        a certain amount of time);    -   6. Adjust the meter; and    -   7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 until the calibration is adequate.

During the whole process, spills, fumes and damage are inevitable andthe technician is constantly exposed to fumes. Accidents are frequent.

To solve this problem, a closed circuit is the most adequate solution.The main inconvenience the need to wait until the last drops have fallenduring the emptying of the tank.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,053 by Campbell describes a method by whichcalibration of current systems are done under actual conditions. Itincludes a first measure at a distance of a first spot, followed by asecond measure from a second spot, knowing exactly the move from thefirst spot, that way the measures are done with a precise knowledge ofthe shift to get a constant calibration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The calibrator for liquid-flow meters is used to calibrate theliquid-flow meter, mostly petroleum liquids. It makes the operationsafe, and it protects the operator, the public and the environment. Itmay also be used advantageously for the measurement of any liquid withthe appropriate viscosity.

A certain quantity of liquid goes through one tank, the other tanksbeing an arrangement allowing the acceleration of the calibration ofretail petroleum products.

The calibrator is made of one or several graduated tanks containing 20liters each, (or other measurement units depending on the country orrequirements), mounted on a vehicle.

The reading of the meter becomes easy, precise and ergonomic.

The filling fumes are recycled.

Each of the tanks has a sloped bottom (40 degrees or so), followed by avalve, a transparent dripping reference unit and a second valve attachedto a common pipe (sloped) and ending with an ultimate valve. The pipingis made of stainless steel.

The transparent drip reference unit is essential.

This particular arrangement allows liquid circulation in a closedcircuit, eliminating handling spills, loss of liquid, and escaping fumes

The invention allows the liquid to return without fumes or turbulence,making the calibration 100% safe. Therefore the present invention helpseliminate fumes, spills and splashes, during both the filling and theemptying of the tanks. The technician will not have to repeatedly pourthe liquids from the test-tank to underground tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The calibrator for liquid-flow meter 1 is a machine used to calibratethe petroleum liquid-flow meters. It can also be used for any liquidwith the adequate viscosity.

The machine is made of one or several stainless steel graduated tanks 2mounted on a level-able vehicle 18. During the filling, the fumes arerecycled by way of a hose 3 coming from the top of the necks of thetanks 2 and ending in the ventilation pipe 16 equipped with a removableexhaust valve 17 on top. Each of the tanks 2 has a sloped bottom, atroughly a 40 degree angle, followed by a valve 15, a transparent dripreference unit 5 and another valve 14 leading to a common pipe 19 and anexit valve 13. The piping is made of stainless steel. During theemptying, the fumes are also recycled. The whole emptying process isdone in a closed circuit without turbulence and without fumes.

The transparent dripping reference unit 5 allows us to build a machinethat makes calibration work safer.

How to calibrate with the invention:

The technician:

-   -   1. Parks the calibrator near the fuel pump.    -   2. Use the lever 6 to lift the wheels off the ground.    -   3. Ground the calibrator to the pump, with the conductor with        alligator clip 7.    -   4. Install the gasoline return hose between the final exit pipe        8 and the gas station's underground tank.    -   5. Open the exit valve 13    -   6. Fill the tanks 2, one at a time, by inserting the gas pump        nozzle in the neck 9 of the tank 2, the neck traps the fumes,        the opening lined with a rubber gasket is in contact with the        nozzle.    -   7. Adjust the two levels 10 to both axis with the two handles 11    -   8. Take the readings while standing up.    -   9. Note the readings by turning the round pre-marked recall        set-up 12    -   10. Open the valves 13,14, and finally 15, to empty out the        tanks.    -   11. Adjust the meters of the pump if need be.    -   12. Close the valve 14 as soon as the tanks are empty.    -   13. Make sure the tanks are truly empty before closing valve 15,        by observing the last drops of liquid dripping down, through the        transparent drip reference unit 5    -   14. Proceed with new test as required.

While the preferred embodiment and various alternative embodiments ofthe invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it maybe apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form anddetail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopethereof.

1. A calibrator for liquid-flow meters comprising: one or severalgraduated tanks 2, in stainless steel, mounted on a level-able vehicle18; a hose circuit 3 beginning on top of each neck 9 to recycle thefumes during the filling and ending in the ventilation pipe 16 with theremovable exhaust pipe 17; a level indicator 4 to measure the liquidlevel; and one or several tanks with a sloped bottom 2, followed by avalve 15, a transparent drip reference unit 5 and another valve 14leading to a common pipe 19 ending with a last valve
 13. 2. A method ofcalibrating the liquid flow meter of claim 1, comprising the steps of:a. Park the calibrator near the pump, b. Use the lever 6 to lift thewheels off the ground, c. Ground the calibrator to the pump 7, d.Install the gasoline return hose between piping exit 8 and the gasstation's underground tank, e. Open the escape valve 13, f. Fill thetanks 2, one at a time, by inserting the gas pump nozzle in the neck 9of the tank, the neck holds the fumes, it makes contact with the nozzle,g. Adjust the two levels 10 in both axis with the two levers 11, h. Takethe readings while standing up, i. Note the readings by turning theround pre-marked recall set-up 12, j. Open the valves 13,14,15 to emptyout tanks, k. Adjust the meters of the pump if need be. l. Close thevalve 14 as soon as the tanks are empty, m. Make sure the tanks aretruly empty before closing valve 15, by observing the final drops ofliquid dripping down through the transparent drip reference unit 5, andn. Proceed with new test as required.